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Eating Lady Finger (Okra) during Pregnancy - Is It Good?
A good diet of fresh vegetables can make a great difference to your body, especially during pregnancy. With the number of changes your body is going through, it is important that you provide it with enough nutrition to sustain and accommodate these changes. Vegetables like okra can be ideal for your pregnancy diet. Let’s find out about all about lady finger benefits during pregnancy.
Nutritional Value of Lady Finger
Okra stores a lot of nutritional components in its tiny frame. Here is a chart with the nutritional value of the vegetable.
Nutritional component
Value per 100 gram
Energy
30 kcal
Carbohydrates
7.6 g
Fibre
3.2 g
Fat
0.1 g
Protein
2.0 g
Vitamin A
0.198 mg
Vitamin B9 or Folate
87.8 g
Vitamin C
21 mg
Calcium
75 mg
Magnesium
57 mg
Health Benefits of Okra during Pregnancy
Okra extends several benefits to pregnant women. It is a low-calorie vegetable and is rich in folate and riboflavin which are essential for the healthy development of the baby. Some of the benefits of eating okra during pregnancy are,
1. Packed with Vitamin C
Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron in the body which promotes your baby’s growth. As an antioxidant, Vitamin C also prevents cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. It further promotes immunity and the development of skin, capillaries and bones in your baby.
2. Rich in Folate
Okra is a good source of folate and folic acid can help prevent the risk of birth defects in babies. Consuming okra is especially recommended between the 4th and the 12th weeks of pregnancy as this is when the neural tubes in your baby develop. Folic acid in okra will aid in this development.
3. Good Source of Antioxidants
Okra has an abundance of antioxidants which can build your baby’s immune system, promote foetal growth and lower the risk of ailments and cardiovascular diseases or diabetes in the baby.
4. Packed with Fibre
A rich content of soluble and insoluble dietary fibre makes okra an excellent choice to prevent constipation during pregnancy. The soluble fibre reduces the risk of diabetes and even cuts down cholesterol in the blood.
5. Promotes Good Sleep
Essential amino acids like tryptophan are present in okra along with oils and proteins which are known to improve the mental well being and aid in getting quality sleep.
Apart from these, okra can also remove toxins from your body as the mucus and the fibre in okra stabilise the glucose in the blood. Pregnant women can also consume okra to maintain their skin and hair, especially if they are affected by rashes and hair fall.
How to Include Okra in Your Pregnancy Diet?
With the multitude of benefits adding bhindi in your pregnancy diet is something that you shouldn’t miss out on. Here are some tips on how to add okra to your diet and some precautions you need to follow while doing so.
Ensure that you wash the okra thoroughly with water before cutting or cooking it. This helps prevent any risk of infection.
Try to cook okra on low heat to prevent losing out on essential nutrients.
You can try a simple recipe where you clean the okra, slit into vertical halves, coat them in gram flour and fry it. This can serve as a delicious finger food.
You can also coat the sliced okra with egg and breadcrumbs and fry it.
To remove toxins from the body, you can crush two okras and soak them in a glass of water overnight. Drink this the next morning. The drink helps detoxify your body, including your kidneys and even regulate your cholesterol.
You can also make okra soup or curry as per your liking.
Okra is a wonder food that has no harmful side-effects to your body during pregnancy. You can consume it every day to improve the health of both you and your baby. However, if you notice any allergic reactions to the vegetable or feel any physical discomfort after eating it, it is advised that you consult a doctor to rule out any serious issues.
Also Read: Bitter Gourd During Pregnancy - Benefits & Side Effects Read more
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Is Your Marriage Perfect? 6 Signs That Prove it!
You might have heard your friends grumbling about the trials and tribulations of marriage, and wondered, "What makes a good marriage?" But if your marriage has any of the following signs, then you've definitely found your "happily ever after"!
Marriage isn't only made of cuddles and love notes - and every couple gets into a fight every now and then! But there's a difference between friendly banter and fights that can crumble the foundations of your love for each other! Here are some signs that you fall under the former category - a marriage that is unbreakably strong, no matter what!
Signs of a Strong Marriage
1. You Enjoy Being Together
You take out time to enjoy some fun activities, even if it means watching a movie with your Pj's on. You always have something more to talk about than kids and household matters. It's simple - you just love being together and doing things together. And that's what makes you a happy couple!
2. You're Respectful Towards Each Other
Spouses in happy marriages like to genuinely see each other happy, and mutual respect is one of the keys to a successful marriage. Both of you respect your partner's feelings, character, time, and the relationship as well. You respect each other enough to share your opinion on any issue.
3. Trust is Never Questioned
To make your relationship last a lifetime, there has to be immense trust between both. Expensive purchases, colleague trouble, and above all your feelings shouldn't be kept hidden from your partner. Happy couples always speak out their heart and do not keep secrets. If you are one, you know there is no reason to hide something from each other.
4. You Give Each Other Space
If you understand the importance of giving each other some space and 'me-time', then you don't need to ask how strong your marriage is. You encourage each others' hobbies and interests and never mind when your spouse sometimes wants to do something without you! When you are apart, you miss each other, but it doesn't mean you will ignore your besties in favour of texting or calling each other!
5. You Talk it Out Right
Marriages cannot be devoid of arguments. But whether you want to turn it into a battle or reunite after a tiff is upto you. Happy couples work through the tough times. When there is a disagreement between you both, you prefer to talk it out right and logical, rather than blaming. You know how important it is to express your feelings and let go off any grudges.
6. You Love and Value Each Other
Loving and appreciating each other is what makes a good marriage. Happy couples always praise and compliment each other for the little things they do. You value your partner and the beliefs he shares, and you constantly appreciate the efforts your hubby puts in to make you feel wonderful.
When it comes to marriage, it's the quality time that matters! Steal a few ideas from our list of tips for happy marriage to keep your relationship strong forever. Stay connected! Read more
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Misdiagnosed Miscarriage - Is It Possible?
There have been instances of a misdiagnosed miscarriage due to a tilted uterus and that has left many women saddened and frustrated as a result. The blind faith in doctors in regards to pregnancy has left many people surprised to know that miscarriages can be misdiagnosed, too. Understanding why that happens can help you be prepared with those scenarios.
Reasons Behind Misdiagnosed Miscarriage
While it may seem surprising to know that a miscarriage can indeed by misdiagnosed, it is not without good reason. The initial phases of checking for the baby’s presence and well-being are pretty complex and a scope for misdiagnosis does exist due to some common reasons.
1. Unable to Spot the Baby During an Ultrasound
One of the major techniques to detect a baby in the uterus and identify its location and other characteristics is by making use of an ultrasound machine. The ultrasound machine also has a certain threshold and can detect the echoes it receives only when it interacts with objects that are of a specific size. In most cases, once a month or month and a half have passed, the gestational sac of the woman reaches a size of about 13-15 mm, which can be picked up by the machine. But, there have been cases where even a 20 mm sac has not been seen on ultrasound, and it might seem like you have miscarried your child.
2. The Disappearance of a Twin
At times, the initial tests and ultrasounds generally reveal the presence of twins present in the uterus. However, further tests might show only one foetus being present in the uterus and the other twin unable to be seen. It might indicate that one child has been miscarried while the other one grows. On the other hand, there are possibilities where the other foetus is under the upper one and isn’t visible because their heartbeats are not separately discernible at this stage.
3. Presence of a Heterotopic Pregnancy
The levels of hCG and pregnancy are pretty intertwined with each other. Therefore, if the doctors note that the levels of hCG have fallen considerably, it might be concluded that a miscarriage has occurred. However, a heterotopic pregnancy is a rare case where a woman has two pregnancies. One is within the uterus, while the other is ectopic. Once the ectopic pregnancy fails prematurely, the hCG levels drop but the uterine pregnancy stays healthy.
4. Erroneous hCG Levels
Similar to the aforementioned condition, the levels of hCG are pretty unstable during pregnancy and can rise or fall without explanation. Once pregnant, there should be a healthy increase in those levels as the foetus starts growing rapidly. However, if those levels don’t rise as expected, a doctor might deduce that the foetus is not alive. But that isn’t always the case and levels can be delayed before they rise to a normal value.
5. An Incorrect Date of Conception
After conception, the embryo begins to grow at a fast pace and implantation follows after it. During this process, a heartbeat cannot be detected but the embryo can be seen in a few cases. Many doctors do a repeat ultrasound after a week if the embryo is invisible earlier. This is highly dependent on the date of conception. If this is termed to be earlier than it actually is, it could lead doctors to believe that a miscarriage has taken place.
What Are the Chances of Misdiagnosed Miscarriage?
A misdiagnosed miscarriage is not unlikely. If an ultrasound is conducted prior to completing 6 weeks or a vaginal ultrasound is not used as a follow-up, doctors might erroneously assume a miscarriage is taken place.
Misconceptions Regarding Misdiagnosed Miscarriage
For many parents, it is still hard to accept the fact that miscarriages can be misdiagnosed. This is primarily due to the numerous misconceptions that revolve around the factors that depend on identifying miscarriages.
1. An Absence of a Heartbeat that Was Detected Earlier
Noticing a heartbeat during the ultrasound scan is a great sign for most parents since it confidently establishes the presence of a foetus inside. However, if the same cannot be observed in a successive ultrasound, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have miscarried your child. The heartbeat can resurface in the following week as well.
2. A Miscarriage is too Important to be Misdiagnosed
Yes, miscarriage is quite an important and high-risk event for a woman. But doctors are humans, after all, and are highly dependent on medical equipment and the results that they provide. While most experienced doctors are aware of fluctuating factors, not all doctors are as good at it. These may state a miscarriage has taken place when it isn’t the case.
3. A Baby Without a Heartbeat is a Clear Sign of Miscarriage
While a foetal heartbeat is crucial, the position of the baby and the angle of the ultrasound device play a massive role in detecting it. An absent heartbeat can be spotted after a week when some adjustments have taken place within.
4. A Pregnancy Can Be Detected in Any Kind of a Uterus – H3
Most variations of a uterus are able to carry a pregnancy healthily to its complete term, but a tilted uterus can pose problems during ultrasounds in detecting the child effectively. These tend to improve as the pregnancy progresses and need smarter approaches.
5. Spotting a Baby at Good hCG Levels
A high hCG level could also be present due to an ectopic pregnancy when the uterine pregnancy is too small to be detected on an ultrasound.
6. Ultrasounds Always Detect Babies After 6-8 Weeks
Although chances are higher after a month or so, the growth and positioning of a baby could make it difficult to be spotted with an ultrasound even when it is healthy and fine.
7. If hCG Levels Don’t Rise Constantly, it Indicates a Miscarriage
hCG levels do rise during pregnancy but they also slow down or even drop at times. These don’t always mean a miscarriage has occurred.
How to Ensure Your Miscarriage Has Not Been Misdiagnosed?
If initial signs indicate a miscarriage, it is best to conduct repeat ultrasounds and tests after a week or so. Switching doctors could also be helpful in this case.
Coming across a misdiagnosed miscarriage due to heavy bleeding is rare since that occurs only if you have had intercourse during pregnancy. In all other cases, patience is a virtue to be held close to your heart and do not base your conclusions are single tests.
Also Read: Early Miscarriage: Causes & Symptoms Read more
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How to Get Your Baby to Nap - Daytime Sleep Tips
Becoming a parent, especially for the first time, can be an ordeal. The newborn becomes the crux of your life, and you find that you have questions about each and everything that affects the child. While much of that may be due to confusion and a sense of emotional overwhelming, some aspects do need much thought- like napping.
As a parent, you will surely have heard that naps are good for your child. You will soon see that babies love napping, but how much time should a baby actually sleep? In this article, let us take a deeper look at the sleeping patterns of a child in his first year.
Why Naps are Essential for Babies?
Naps are extremely essential for the child, even at such early ages. They can help improve the mood of your child, and reduce tantrums, crying and other kinds of whining. During naptimes, the brain grows more than it would when the child is awake. Naps help your child grow faster, and understand his environment better. Another common misconception is that skipping naps can improve the quality of sleep your child has at night time- this is not proven, so choosing daytime naps are better for the general health of your child.
Where Should Your Baby Nap?
The best place for your baby to have his daytime naps in his crib; this makes him feel secure and safe, sleeping in a known environment. If you lead an active lifestyle, you need to practice putting your child to sleep in a stroller or carriers so that he gets used to it- if that is not possible, at least carry one or two items that will remind him of his bed, so that he feels secure. If your room is a bright one, you can use blackout curtains so that your baby settles in well.
How Many Naps Does a Baby Need?
The amount of time a baby needs to nap depends upon how old he is, and also on his behavioural pattern. A table that indicates the required amount of time according to his age has been given below.
Age
Daily Naps
Total Daytime Sleep
Duration of Each Nap
Awake Period Between Naps
Things to Remember
0 to 11 Weeks
6 to 8
4 to5 hours
10 or 15 minutes to 4 hours
30 mins to1 hour
Since your child is a newborn, he will not have a definite sleep schedule. So do not worry much about how erratic his naps are.
3 to 4 Months
4 to5
3 to4 hours
30 minutes to2 hours
about 1 to2 hours
At the age of four months, your child may exhibit sleep regression and the naps may reduce.
5 to 6 Months
3 to4
2.5 to3.5 hours
30/45 minutes to2 hours
about 2 hours
At the end of this stage, your child should be settling into a more predictable, stable nap routine.
7 to 8 Months
2 to3
2 to3 hours
1 to2 hours
2 to3 hours
The number of naps reduces from three to two at the end of this stage, owing to another regression.
9 to 12 Months
2
2 to3 hours
1 to2 hours
about 3to4 hours
At the end of the year, your child would have settled into a predictable nap schedule.
Tips to Get Your Baby to Nap
As a new parent, the answer to how to get your baby to nap will not be clear- the process can be quite trying. He might end up throwing tantrums at the slightest provocations, or just refuse to go to sleep altogether. However, there are a few things which can help you help your child get into his baby nap times.
Try to make construct baby nap routines that fit your child. Think of his energy levels around the day, and set up the nap times when he is tired so that he is more willing to go to sleep. It has been proven that two napes, one in the mid-morning and one in the afternoon can really help your child rest.
Children like to have consistent timings, and this applies in the case of naps too. Establish correct timing for his naps, so that he sleeps readily when it is time.
If your child is showing reluctance to nap, try to lull him into it. You can sing a lullaby, draw him a warm bath or even massage his tummy so that he becomes relaxed easily.
Your baby is sure to show signs of fatigue and tiredness, so look out for those. This can help you better understand when your child wants to sleep, and thus construct a routine based on these signs.
Naps are important, but activities are also equally important- there must be a balance struck between the two. If your child has been energetic always, he is sure to tire out when his naptime comes- a nap also gives him the energy to be a part of more activities. The right activities can help your child develop and grow mentally and physically.
Long naps are not great, either- if you see your child asleep for more than three hours in a stretch, wake him up gently and help him burn off energy with a few activities.
If your child is adamantly against napping, do not be frustrated- in some cases, it is normal for children to have only one nap or even no nap during the daytime. Ensure that he is sleeping well at night, though.
If you are ever in doubt about even the smallest thing, the best thing to do would be to consult a doctor.
Is It Okay to Limit the Length of Baby’s Nap?
If your child has slept for the appropriate amount during the daytime, it is okay to wake him up so that he does not sleep too much. This ensures that he does not sleep too much during the daytime, and his night sleep is not affected. If he is in danger of missing a feed, it is not wrong to wake your child up- also, ensure that he is taking part in some engaging activities when he is awake so that he becomes tired after some time.
The answer to how much sleep a baby needs would have been a confusing one, as it depends upon the personality, energy levels and what he does when he is awake. Although general guidelines for the amount of sleep he requires are given above, do not fret if he does not follow it accurately. Also, do consult the doctor if you feel that something is wrong with the sleep pattern of your child.
Also Read:
How to Get a Baby to Sleep Through Night?
Baby Sleep Training
SIDS In Babies Read more
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Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
5 hours ago
Q. I got chicken pox in my 8th week..it's just started how I can deal with it?
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
5 hours ago
A. Hello dear! Chicken pox during pregnancy is a matter of concern. Consult your doctor for personal evaluation and seek medical advice. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and follow your doctor’s advice. Good luck and take care
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. is sesame seeds healthy in 37th week of pregnancy
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
2 hours ago
A. yes you can have but limited .
During pregnancy it is always advisable to have your normal routine foods and include more of sprouted grains along with green leafy vegetables and adequate water intake which helps maintain good health
Do have regular daily walking
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. ninth month mein kab tak delivery ho sakti hai
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
53 mins ago
A. anytime after full term ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. my last period date Dec 26 pregnancy test date January 31 check panen apom 37 days ipom enaku evlo weeks and days what ?..
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
48 mins ago
A. I don’t understand your language can you please post your question once again in English or Hindi whatever language you are more comfortable with because anybody on this only we can give you response on that
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. which good formula milk or baby food for 4 months old baby
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
53 mins ago
A. no complementary foods below 4 months can use any branded formula milk. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
1 hour ago
Q. Iam 9month pregnant and having very painful condition due to constipation and gastric issues
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
54 mins ago
A. during pregnancy better not to take medicines for constipation take lot of water green leafy vegetables seasonal fruits you can try suppository if the problem is more o k o k
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